American Bess build

[Keb]

I am building an American fowling gun that could have been used in the Rev War. I am using Brown Bess brass fittings, Bess bayonet & an 1746 Willits lock. The barrel is 6" longer than a Bess but is tapered round with a Bess facsimile of the breech band. Anyway, I'm struggling with the shape of the bulge. Would any of you all happen to know what it would look like? Mine was quite big to begin with and I keep shrinking it. Here's a couple pictures of what I have now but I think it still needs some refining.





Bottom view:


Top view:


Side view:

[smart dog]

Hi Keb,
You have it about right for an early model long land Bess.  Later short land Bess's often had smaller more oval bulges, less like a ball.  If you are trying to stick to the Bess architecture, make sure you sharpen up the baluster wrist and comb.  There should be a sharp distinct line defining the wrist where it joins the comb and that sharp crease extends far back into the butt.  Good luck.

dave

[rich pierce]

In hand would be better to see what's going on, but as an American re-stock you have some freedom (see what I did there?) I would think.

[axelp]

As an American "re-stock," I would consider making the bulge quite subtle or maybe not at all.
K

[WKevinD]

What "smart dog" said.

[James Rogers]

Hi Keb,
It may just be the picture angle but the dog knot should not bulge on the bottom line of the forestock. I would taper the lower line of the lower forestock, moving forward from the lock to the entry thimble or at the very least have it straight.

[Keb]

It's not the picture. I've struggled with this lower line, too.

[Ed Wenger]

Keb,

I agree with James...  It might take a little "engineering" of the ram rod pipe, but ideally, there shouldn't be a bulge on the underside.  Having said that, what Rich said is very true, American arms were all over the place.  There were no "specs" as we know them today.  Congress instructed the various manufactories and Committee's of Safety to make American muskets "in the image of the British muskets", or words to that effect.  Looking good!


         Ed

[smart dog]

Hi Keb,
James and Ed mentioned an important feature as well.  I've built several military guns that have these bulges and use the following strategy in the process:  I install the rear thimble as I would for any rifle or fowler (i.e., with no swell showing vertically).  Then I round the still square stock leaving a squared block the horizontal length of the swell.  Then I bring the section of that block along the barrel channel down to the same shape as the rest of the stock. Finally, simply round off the remaining block of wood at the swell to the correct shape and you are done.  I also don't fret too much if the bulge is not even on both sides.  Every original Bees I've examined had uneven shaping at the bulge.

dave   

[Keb]

Thanks for all the great input. I've got some work to do.

[smart dog]

Hi Keb,
An analogy that might help.  If you were looking at a cross section of the stock at the bulge, it would look more like a fat flying saucer rather than a sphere or oval.

dave

[Keb]

I got it looking how I was hoping to. The bottom is a straight line from the trigger guard to the entry pipe. However, I had to whack the snot out of the pipe. I don't have a top view pic but it makes a nice smooth transition. It'll hafta do.



I now have all the parts mounted. All that's left is thinning & shaping. It's a big gun. It tips the scale at 13 lbs. The barrel is 9 1/2 of that. :/



Added top view picture:

[cmac]

The barrel is 9 1/2 lbs? What caliber? Nice work on reshaping the bulge

[Keb]

Thanks. The barrel is 52" long, 1.400" diameter breech tapered to .880 at muzzle & is .75 caliber.

[Ed Wenger]

I think that looks better...  From the photos, it looks like you have enough wood to expose the ram rod pipe a little more (take some wood off the bottom of the fore end), which might give a little more "step".  Just a thought...  Nice, hefty musket!


        Ed

[whitebear]

Looking good Keep up the good work.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Handheld cannon!! Looks good!!

[PPatch]

Keb;

There is an Early American fowler featured on Contemporary Makers today, shows that bump pretty well. Maybe give it a look-see.

dave

[Keb]

I saw that posting. I've got 2 words for that gun... Nice!

Here's a profile view of this American musket with the bayonet attached.

[Daniel]

BEAUTIFUL !!!

[whitebear]

I saw that posting. I've got 2 words for that gun... Nice!

Here's a profile view of this American musket with the bayonet attached.

I would use the same two words to describe your American Bess Build.

[Keb]

I got the color on today. It came out like I was expecting.

[KLMoors]

Well done!

[Ed Wenger]

Yep, well done, indeed!


       Ed

[Chris Treichel]

Nice job. Looks like you have the right idea with your musket. I am currently working on a carbine of the provincial sort for a Dragoon impression with maple stock and a mix of English fowler and Brown Bess parts... and spent some time in the Mt Vernon museum this weekend as well as talking to Ed... Looks like I had the butt way to fat and the forearm too rectangular which caused it to be butt heavy and not balance right on the swivel. Its a bit odd looking at first when you compare a musket butt to that of say a fowler. But if you think about all the clothes and gear a soldier wears it starts to make sense why the length of pull is shorter.  For anyone interested, Mt Vernon's collection of muskets and rifles are back in the museum display after last year's water damage.